Mark Gura – författare

"As a folklorist, writer, and teacher of writing, I know firsthand how interactive author Web sites make it possible for students to talk, meet, and exchange ideas with extraordinary writers. Reissman and Gura have devised a brilliant strategy for utilizing the World Wide Web in the service of literacy. This book offers a wide range of opportunities for teachers and students to use these free resources to foster literacy and learning in the classroom."—Steve Zeitlin, DirectorCity Lore

Foster students' literacy and learning in the digital age through the engaging world of author Web sites!

Using the Internet as an instructional tool can be daunting, but this innovative guide demonstrates how very easily and effectively author Web sites can be integrated into any classroom as a free and accessible resource for instruction, thus fulfilling the mandate for using technology in teaching and learning.

Rose Cherie Reissman and Mark Gura show teachers how to make the most of author Web sites—from such favorite authors as Jean Craighead George, Judy Blume, and Eric Carle—to deepen students' engagement with reading and invite students into a fascinating literary community. The authors offer a rich trove of resources for teachers to explore:

Activities that encourage and energize reluctant learners to participate in class discussionsStrategies to promote literacy learning, including nonfiction reading, narrative writing, visual literacy, and much more Suggestions for using Web sites as a learning tool in math, science, and social studies Simple instructions on how students can create their own author-focused Web sites

No matter what your level of technological expertise, this book provides the guidance needed to use author Web sites to encourage students' lifelong literacy.

Despite significant investment of funds, time, and effort in bringing computers, the Internet, and related technologies into our classrooms, educators have turned their back on these new power tools of the intellect. School is the last remaining institution to keep 21st Century technology at arms distance. How can technology be used to enrich and enhance traditional approaches to instruction? How does it move teaching into new territory? What actions need to be taken in order to successfully transform our schools to effective, technology-supported learning environments? Why has this happened and what can be done to reverse it? Recapturing Technology for Education answers these questions. It re-establishes the legitimacy and urgency of tapping technology to make our schools relevant and effective once again. This book explores the reasons why educators have resisted making the leap to a technology-supported brand of teaching and learning, and it will provide an education worthy of 21st Century children. Includes: Interviews and quotes of experts in the field, References, reviews, and recommendations of free resources available to educators. Written for both education professionals and lay persons, it will also be useful to all who are interested in understanding Instructional Technology and unleashing its potential to positively impact.

The purpose of this book is to reach out to teachers, parents, coaches, and students who may be hoping to, or just investigating the possibility of, how to get started with robotics. At the same time, we hope to leverage the efforts of those who have been hard at work and "play" in this massive movement for many years, applaud their efforts, and provide them with documentation, support, and additional resources to reach further into the possibilities they can help create for all of us in bringing the power and potential of learning through robotics to more students, to the classroom and beyond. Not only does this book provide resources and firsthand insight into this exciting field, but it also provides one-of-a-kind perspectives of curricular applications of robotics for student learning.

The purpose of this book is to reach out to teachers, parents, coaches, and students who may be hoping to, or just investigating the possibility of, how to get started with robotics. At the same time, we hope to leverage the efforts of those who have been hard at work and "play" in this massive movement for many years, applaud their efforts, and provide them with documentation, support, and additional resources to reach further into the possibilities they can help create for all of us in bringing the power and potential of learning through robotics to more students, to the classroom and beyond. Not only does this book provide resources and firsthand insight into this exciting field, but it also provides one-of-a-kind perspectives of curricular applications of robotics for student learning.

Podcasting for Teachers is the first volume of a new series from Dr. Kathleen P. King and Mark Gura- Emerging Technologies for Evolving Learners and is based on their successful educational technology podcast, Podcast for Teachers, Techpod (sm). Their podcast work has reached over 600,000 people as of 9/06 and branched into virtual seminars, and additional innovations.This book introduces and explains this important new technology from the perspective of educators. It also provides new insights into the ways that technology can provide solutions to instructional needs that have not been sufficiently addressed until now. Not only does it provide concrete explanations, examples, models, and details about methods and resources that are not currently illustrated in other publications, but it also reveals a new rationale for the use of technology in education.K – 12 school district directors of curriculum and instruction and directors of professional development, as well as classroom teachers, principals, and instructional supervisors across the core curriculum and in the area of Instructional Technology; and teacher educators and other college faculty will find this book a valuable resource. Readers may use the book as part of their own efforts to expand their teaching or staff development practice. It can also be an important resource for Education courses in content instruction and Instructional Technology and serve as a valuable reference for educators interested in educational applications of technology.

Podcasting for Teachers is the first volume of a new series from Dr. Kathleen P. King and Mark Gura- Emerging Technologies for Evolving Learners and is based on their successful educational technology podcast, Podcast for Teachers, Techpod (sm). Their podcast work has reached over 600,000 people as of 9/06 and branched into virtual seminars, and additional innovations.This book introduces and explains this important new technology from the perspective of educators. It also provides new insights into the ways that technology can provide solutions to instructional needs that have not been sufficiently addressed until now. Not only does it provide concrete explanations, examples, models, and details about methods and resources that are not currently illustrated in other publications, but it also reveals a new rationale for the use of technology in education.K – 12 school district directors of curriculum and instruction and directors of professional development, as well as classroom teachers, principals, and instructional supervisors across the core curriculum and in the area of Instructional Technology; and teacher educators and other college faculty will find this book a valuable resource. Readers may use the book as part of their own efforts to expand their teaching or staff development practice. It can also be an important resource for Education courses in content instruction and Instructional Technology and serve as a valuable reference for educators interested in educational applications of technology.

This book introduces and explains this important new technology from the perspective of educators. It also provides new insights into the ways that technology can provide solutions to instructional needs that have not been sufficiently addressed until now. Not only does it provide concrete explanations, examples, models, and details about methods and resources that are not currently illustrated in other publications, but it also reveals a new rationale for the use of technology in education.This book helps readers apprehend critical issues essential to understanding and taking advantage of podcasting and related technologies as an educational resource:What podcasting isHow “to do” podcastingHow to plan podcasting-based activities for studentsHow to create podcasts as teaching resourcesHow to use podcasting for professional developmentModels developed specifically by the authors regarding:Podcast developmentEducators’ learning curve in podcastingCost/benefit decision making regarding podcasting projectsK – 12 school district directors of curriculum and instruction and directors of professional development, as well as classroom teachers, principals, and instructional supervisors across the core curriculum and in the area of Instructional Technology; and teacher educators and other college faculty will find this book a valuable resource. Readers may use the book as part of their own efforts to expand their teaching or staff development practice. It can also be an important resource for Education courses in content instruction and Instructional Technology and serve as a valuable reference for educators interested in educational applications of technology.What you will find in this revised and updated edition?New for this edition are valuable additional insights and updates related to our additional years of experience in podcasting and new media. Critical updated URLs, screenshots, software comparisons, data, some fresh new curricular examples, and included references to our new series, The Teachers’ Podcast and Transformation Education LIVE! We have also upgraded statistical information, advancements from the podcasting world, references, and biographical information. In short, the book is better than ever, in part because of suggestions form our many readers who are, teachers learners, and podcast listeners of course!

This book introduces and explains this important new technology from the perspective of educators. It also provides new insights into the ways that technology can provide solutions to instructional needs that have not been sufficiently addressed until now. Not only does it provide concrete explanations, examples, models, and details about methods and resources that are not currently illustrated in other publications, but it also reveals a new rationale for the use of technology in education.This book helps readers apprehend critical issues essential to understanding and taking advantage of podcasting and related technologies as an educational resource:What podcasting isHow “to do” podcastingHow to plan podcasting-based activities for studentsHow to create podcasts as teaching resourcesHow to use podcasting for professional developmentModels developed specifically by the authors regarding:Podcast developmentEducators’ learning curve in podcastingCost/benefit decision making regarding podcasting projectsK – 12 school district directors of curriculum and instruction and directors of professional development, as well as classroom teachers, principals, and instructional supervisors across the core curriculum and in the area of Instructional Technology; and teacher educators and other college faculty will find this book a valuable resource. Readers may use the book as part of their own efforts to expand their teaching or staff development practice. It can also be an important resource for Education courses in content instruction and Instructional Technology and serve as a valuable reference for educators interested in educational applications of technology.What you will find in this revised and updated edition?New for this edition are valuable additional insights and updates related to our additional years of experience in podcasting and new media. Critical updated URLs, screenshots, software comparisons, data, some fresh new curricular examples, and included references to our new series, The Teachers’ Podcast and Transformation Education LIVE! We have also upgraded statistical information, advancements from the podcasting world, references, and biographical information. In short, the book is better than ever, in part because of suggestions form our many readers who are, teachers learners, and podcast listeners of course!

Project-Based Learning; it’s a term that most educators have heard and probably have heard good things about, Often, though, they aren’t quite sure precisely what its defining characteristics are other than involving students in projects that are supposed to somehow result in their learning things of value.A great many teachers are reluctant to make it part of what they do with their students due to unfounded fears of unrealistic workloads and classroom management issues associated with it. This book should help change that, making the nature of PBL (Project-Based Learning) clear and illustrating how it can be a manageable, effective, and very enjoyable aspect of instruction.The book will present an exciting, alternative approach to literacy instruction that its authors call Project Based Literacy. This will principally be done through the presentation of 20 appealing projects, all of them carefully designed to engage and inspire students (grades 3 – 8) in literacy activities that are both core to the required curriculum and deeply in-synch with the Common Core Standards in English Language Arts. The book will also present support material for this, providing sufficient theory, instructional and classroom management tips, and technology and other ‘How To’ information to ensure that rank and file classroom teachers can adopt, adapt, and enjoyably and successfully implement the projects and maximize learning in relation to the Common Core Standards for ELA.